Shadows of the Keeper

by Karey Brown

  “We should then hold out hope she succeeds in pissing this whatever-around-my-arm off. Why don’t you just end her miserable existence, once and for all?”

  “Certain rules we gods have to obey; however, should she cross the line, I am free to do what you suggest. And that, little one, is authority given to me from Zeus.”

  “You sound hopeful.”

  “My mother killed a child. It wasn’t the first time, and it wasn’t the last, but it scarred me. Because I dared show sentiment, I was punished until my father arrived.”

  Emily huddled against him. “This only convinces you more to send me atop.”

  He kissed the top of her head. “Yes.” His voice was very resigned. “I cannot allow anything to happen to you, and now, you are in a very delicate state. When my mother realizes you are pregnant, her determination to claim your soul will increase in ways I’d rather not have you even remotely near.”

  “There’s no way I’m already pregnant, and there’s especially no way you could know.” No sooner said, than her hand slammed against her mouth and she was shoving away from him, making a beeline for the bathing chambers. Moments after emptying the contents of her stomach, followed by rib-aching dry heaves, a cold cloth pressed against her face.

  “Dez. This isn’t exactly how I want you seeing me.”

  Dezenial swept her up into his arms, this time carrying her to their bed. “Keer’dra, you will remain under my watch, even though it is now easier.”

  “It’s the main reason you finally claimed me—just to make . . . your life easier.”

  “The rewards of tasting you each night make it well worth the agony I must suffer being in your company by day.”

  “And you wonder why the black widow kills her mate.” Emily groaned. “Maybe all the flitting about, I simply suffer vertigo.” She eyed him. “Pregnancy . . . pfff.”

  He pulled the quilt up to her chin. “You know I must sit on council today. Eldaryn will protect you.” He would counsel the Daemon death squad to ferret out Drakar’s priestess, obviously loaned to him by his mother. A well-known fact down here in Balkore: Drakar was useless with spells. The only way he’d been able to pull Emily into a dimension was through Shadow. Perhaps he should eradicate his mother’s entourage as well? It has been four-thousand years since my last rage cost her dearly. Apparently, she needs reminding. Then again, having claimed Emily as his own versus bringing her to Shadow was a dangerous dance he’d chosen to participate in.

  “Must I keep that dog in here?”

  Dezenial chuckled. “That dog, as you persist in continuing to call it, will protect you better than any Shadow Master, save your sire. Besides, I trust Eldaryn more right now than most who claim allegiance.”

  “I’m not ungrateful, Dez, just tired of feeling sick. It’s making me bitchy—“

  He snorted.

  “Are you implying I’m always bitchy?”

  “It is not an implication. You are Lumynari. Ill temper and ill repute are expected . . . and admired.”

  She waved him off. “I’m just tired. No Lumynari, no evil, just good ole’ fashioned exhaustion. I think we have to give sex a break for a while.”

  He suckled her fingers.

  She snatched her hand back. “Okay, so sex is staying, but I think I’ve just been through too much, too fast, and my body is finally shutting down and having itself a fit of sorts, though I’m starving for super spicy food too, and that surely doesn’t make—“

  Dezenial placed a finger over her mouth, silencing her barrage. “Keer’dra. You are with child.”

  She rolled over, presenting her back to him.

  “Temper tantrums do not improve my mood.” He rolled her right back over. “You will rest. When I’ve finished my obligations, I’ll take you on a short journey. You’ll enjoy its end result.”

  “Sex?”

  “No, you lustful wench, not sex.” His boyish grin made her blush and laugh.

  “See, get a girl pregnant, and she’s no longer needed.”

  His lips delicately touched hers, his hand splaying her abdomen. She felt cherished.

  “Mine, Keer’dra. Never forget how much I enjoy the domination and claiming of you, as I have done for these past several days since taking you as my mate.”

  She forced his hand to squeeze her breast. “How can you know that I’m with child?”

  In answer, he deftly separated the buttons of her shirt and slipped her offering from his hand to her mouth. She arched, his suckling becoming ravishment. Just as quickly, he raised his head. “Observe.”

  Milk seeped from her breast. “That’s impossible! I would only be in my first trimester.”

  “You’re Lumynari.”

  “Im’pyur, to be precise.”

  “Mine, to be exact.”

  “I’m pregnant, Dez. We’re pregnant.”

  He smiled lovingly, caressing her face, his other hand sliding down, possessing where her womb lay. His head jerked. He shifted and stared at her abdomen, frowning.

  “Dez?”

  He looked up at her. Lumynari warrior, sovereign at that, Dark Prince, wore such an uncommon look of surprise on his face . . . ‘twas more unsettling than if he’d donned a halo.

  “You’re scaring me,” she whispered. “Oh, God! It’s a gargoyle, isn’t it? Do you know how cruel kids can be, his days at school will be awful, his little horns—“

  “Emily, for the love of Hades,” he shook his head, laughing. “Gargoyle? Only Daemon Elites can morph into such creatures. No, it is something I’ve suspected. There beats two hearts.”

  Her mouth moved several times. She clamped it shut and looked down at her stomach. Finally, she found her voice. “Twins?” It still came out as a squeak.

  He scoot down, petal soft kisses tickling where his babies rested. “Keer’dra,” he whispered caressingly, “you are most beautiful.”

  “You’ll hurry?”

  “Not in the least.” He stood, covering her again. “Eldaryn!”

  Eight-hundred pounds of beast padded in. “You bellowed?”

  “Protect her. None enter but Inzyr. Kill any unless it’s Daemon, or Cianna.”

  “A most anticipated pleasure. Shall I save them for your questioning, or am I granted your permission to feast?”

  Emily shuddered. A two-headed dog sat back upon its haunches, watching her with one head, Dezenial with the other. A groan escaped her as she collapsed back on the pillows. The snout of the beast raised, its other joining in unison, sniffing loudly. “Your mate is with child.”

  Emily groaned. “Is nothing sacred?”

  Beast and Shadow Master exchanged words in a language not even Emily’s odd powers could decipher. Both males studied her for long moments in silence. She felt like a lab experiment gone horribly wrong. Her eyes narrowed. Dezenial grinned before taking his leave.

  Silence weighed down on her, Dezenial’s footfalls having long lost their echo hours past. And still, one pair of eyes watched her and panted, the other set watched the door.

  “Why must you stare at me?”

  “You were ordered to rest.”

  “I cannot sleep with something staring at me.” She swept the hair off her neck, twisted its length, then dropped the rope down beside her head across the pillow. “Just come up here.”

  “I am not a household pet.” The bed dipped precariously. Emily lurched and grabbed fistfuls of the blankets, saving herself from rolling off. She’d not taken into consideration the beast’s weight. It was akin to having invited a polar bear up onto the bead.

  “It’s very unsettling to have one head glowering at me, the other watching the door.”

  Eldaryn licked his chops.

  “Oh, I feel much better.” She caressed her abdomen, turned on her side and moaned.

  “It is always difficult in the beginning.”

  “You’re an expert on human pregnancy?”

  “Somewhat.”

  Emily lifted her head a bit. “Do tell.”

&nbs
p; “I guarded the nursery.”

  “You were in charge of babies?”

  “You sound doubtful.”

  “You look the type that watched them as your next meal.”

  Almost, Emily could swear the dog grinned as he answered. “Human flesh was a delicacy I was tortured to watch over for the trolls.”

  “Oh, God!” Emily lurched from the bed and ran for dear life for the toilet. She was on her knees, hugging the porcelain basin when panting warmed her back. “Tell me Dezenial rescued you, and this is some sort of debt you will soon be free from.” Emily kept her face aimed into the basin.

  “I am not a dog. Why would I need rescuing? And, no, I will not be separating myself from your presence anytime soon.”

  “There’s a scar of missing fur under your jaw.”

  “Chains.”

  “You require them?”

  The beast dipped one of his hulking heads, nosing her away from the toilet. “Wash your face with cold water. It helps. Balance yourself against me, and I will guide you back to your pallet.”

  “Okay . . . in a . . . minute.”

  “No. Iron in your body is inadequate. You are about to faint. You will obey me.”

  “How the hell . . . do you know . . . my ears are ringing.” Dezenial!

  Eldaryn nudged her roughly, forcing her to lie down upon cold tiles. One gigantic paw cushioned her, the other lightly, but firmly, held her down.

  “What are you . . .” Everything floated away.

  Ringing.

  A voice. Far off. Steadily closing in. No, not right. Someone spoke . . . through a snorkel? Odd. Sticky. Cold. Clammy. Hot.

  “I cannot obtain water for you. I cannot obtain food, unless you are interested in fresh kill? No? Nourishment is what you need.”

  The beast sat upon haunches, again with the one head trained on her, the other on the bathroom door.

  “I passed out?”

  “Can you stand?”

  “I think so.” She turned her head a bit. “Maybe in a minute or two.”

  “Use me.” The beast nudged her, helping her with its solid stance as crutch for her to get up and hold onto during her stumble towards her bed. Her brow beaded with sweat. Gratefully, she collapsed upon down softness. The last bit of strength she owned was used to pull up the coverlet. In tight fetal position, she promised herself she’d never move again. Eldaryn lay against her back, one head resting upon her thigh, staring at her face, the other watching the door.

  “What are you doing?”

  “You are cold. I produce enough heat to warm you.” His body shuffled, closing any gaps that may have existed between human and animal. “Just do not think to pet my head. I am not a dog.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it.” Heat radiated.

  “Dezenial’s mate. You were correct. I was rescued. Trolls owned me. Snow trolls.”

  “Snow trolls?”

  “The most hungry; therefore, the most feared.”

  “The chain was to keep you leashed?”

  “The chain was used to hang me.”

  Emily’s eyes snapped open. “You were being killed?”

  “No.”

  “Dog or not, I do not like riddles.”

  “I was being used as sport.”

  “What happened to the troll?”

  “I understand you are forbidden to enter the palisade containing the arena?”

  “How do you know?”

  “My guarding you is not reserved for those times in which you can observe me. Dezenial knows of your desire to see arena battles. If you enter the passageway leading to that area, I am to carry you as a mother would her pup, and if need be, drag you by a leg—though I must say, the taste of your flesh—“

  “Know this, mutt, one drop of saliva touches my skin, you will be a rug I wipe my feet upon. Questions?”

  “I’ll make a list of them. Dezenial warned you lacked fear.”

  “I’m going to sleep. Leave me alone.”

  “I have been ordered to—“

  “Sleep, Rover.”

  “Your lacking fear will—“

  “Rover?”

  He eyed her malevolently.

  “I am grateful you were in the bathroom with me, and helped me back in here. Please don’t let anything harm me. I’m so tired of sleeping with one eye open when Dez is away.”

  “Dez—uh hem. Should even air disturb your rest, I will attack with a vengeance.”

  Emily grinned, nuzzled deeper into her pillow, her eyes closing.

  “Dezenial’s mate?” it whispered.

  One amber eye slitted.

  “Save what pride I have left and keep the name Rover our secret.” Eldaryn actually smirked, the other head swiveling to glance its agreement before returning its death watch upon the door.

  Emily fell into a deep sleep, grinning.

  CHAPTER THRITY-SIX

  Emily’s eyes snapped open.

  As did the beast guarding her.

  She scrambled up, clutching the snout resting upon her thigh. “Not a word,” she whispered. The head snatched away from her.

  “It is not for you to decide.”

  Emily snatched Eldaryn’s snout again. “Trust me in this.” She scooted from the bed. “Come with me.” A slight shift in atmosphere, and Emily knew, what had awakened her, now broke through invisible defenses. It currently lurked down below, in Dezenial’s gathering hall.

  “I have grown to like this particular coat of fur. Very few of us are flattered with gray instead of the dreaded brown.”

  “Dezenial won’t skin you.”

  “He is Lumynari. He will make me rip the fur out myself.”

  “Revolting. Silence. We’re about to have company.” Emily dropped her voice down to barely audible levels. “Into the water.”

  “I cannot protect you—“

  “It will be I who protects you, mutt. Into the water—I command it!” She shoved hard.

  Emily’s scalp tightened. The change was coming over her. But now, she remained coherent. There was magic Dezenial taught her to hone; there was power she knew existed deep within her, intuitively understanding it was forbidden to exploit. And right now, rules be damned. Nothing would endanger her unborn babies.

  A black mass began sieving its entrance.

  Emily became one with surrounding black marble. Stepping back, she melded into the glossy surface. Eldaryn could scarce believe his eyes—all four of them! He stilled. And watched Dezenial’s mate fade, yet her heartbeat still pounded against his ears. How could a human exhibit Shadow Master ability? She’d become part of the wall! Strange, this human-Lumynari. Special. None he allowed close to him, trust obsolete. She’d called him Rover. Four yellow eyes blinked, barely surfacing the dark water. Her heart pounded against his keen hearing. His dark snouts twitched a bit, seeking scent of enemy. Lacking. His eyes swung to the wall confirming Dezenial’s mate still ceased to be visible, then swung to the bedroom. A shadow loomed! It hovered near the bed the human-Lumynari had moments ago slumbered upon . . . slumbering as he’d watched over her.

  She’d trusted him enough to close her eyes, and sleep.

  The shadow pooled the doorway. Hesitation. Throbbing. As if a plug had been pulled, it abruptly cascaded in, slinking along the floor.

  She had pushed him into the water—why water?

  The darkness of shadow contorted into various shapes as it traveled atop the onyx tile, stopping at the edge of the bathing pool. A piece of the shadow stretched . . . touched the water, and recoiled.

  Interesting. A Shadow Master had no aversion to water. So what was this entity weaving throughout the bathing chamber? Dezenial’s mate had known he would be safe in water. Her concern had been for him! But, what of herself? Did this traveling shadow have an aversion for walls? Isn’t this how it had gained access? A solid door had not stopped its intrusion! A heavily guarded door! He had sworn oath to protect Dezenial’s most treasured—“

  Shhh, my friend. You cannot attack what does not b
leed. Wait it out. It seeks only information, nothing more.

  Eldaryn whimpered. He never whimpered. The human-Lumynari had spoken to him through his mind. His mind! How could this be? Even the all-powerful Dezenial lacked ability to mentally converse with him!

  Black pulsating darkness bobbed and weaved a few more times, oozing around the basin and sink. Abruptly, it vanished.

  “Come, Eldaryn, we are alone.”

  The beast slinked from the water.

  “Oh, shake and stop your pouting. I’ll find you a nice prisoner to pounce and sink your gargantuan teeth into.”

  Eldaryn complied, spraying water everywhere. Emily shrieked, her raised arms doing little to ward off the shower. She spun away, laughing. “Eldaryn! I’m soaked!”

  The beast settled back down. “What are you?”

  “Pardon?”

  “Your words were in my mind. You blended with the wall. You hid from a priestess and knew water would hide me.”

  “That, my new fanged friend, was no priestess.”

  Emily removed her sodden nightgown.

  “I appreciate you sharing the viewing of your body.”

  “Perhaps you’d also appreciate me placing you on a leash and taking you for a walk? We could begin in the market square.”

  Eldaryn turned around, sighing at the taxing effort it cost him before plopping down, his tails swishing the tile.

  “It knows I’m with child. You can turn around now, and stop wagging your damn tails, you’re shedding!”

  “It did labor around the contraption you were sick into.”

  Emily rolled her eyes. She’d changed into a long heavy skirt hugging her legs, and falling low upon her hips. She’d enjoy her flat stomach for all of the few weeks she had left before maternity wear would be needed. Twins! Gah. She looked down, incredulous that two babies were growing inside. Where they’d find room, she had no idea. She wore a sleeveless tunic, the armband doing as Dezenial promised: radiating just enough heat to warm her when she wasn’t cocooned in blankets.

  “C’mon. We’ll eat while awaiting my husband’s return. I assume you want your meal raw?”